Texas Rangers Blog

Angels score four times in final two innings to beat Rangers, 6-5

In Tempe, Ariz., Angels’ minor leaguer Randal Grichuk singled through the left side to give Los Angeles a walk-off win Sunday and a sweep of the weekend series between the expected AL West rivals.

Struggling LHP Michael Kirkman allowed four runs over the final two innings to take the loss. After the Rangers had tied the score in the top of the eighth, Kirkman allowed a two-run homer to former Ranger Jorge Cantu to give the Angels back the lead. In the ninth, the Angels had four singles around a fly ball out to produce the run.

The arms: LHP Robbie Ross was the story of the day, going two innings against the Angels. He retired 1B Albert Pujols but, more importantly, got the only lefty he faced, Bobby Abreu to ground into a double play. … RHP Mark Hamburger has had a rough weekend, allowing a homer to start the ninth at San Francisco on Friday and then walking two hitters with a three-run lead. On Sunday, he got Angels 1B Albert Pujols to an 0-and-2 count before allowing a vicious first-inning homer. … RHP Yoshinori
Tateyama had a sharp inning of work and lowered his spring ERA to 1.29.

The bats: 1B Mitch Moreland had a pair of hits and is 6-for-15 (.400) over his last six games. None of the hits have been for extra-bases, but given the depth of the Rangers’ lineup, it’s more important he be more of a contact hitter this season. … OF Conor Jackson, who began the day 2-for-30 this spring, twice had big hits in the Rangers’ eighth and ninth inning rallies. … C Dusty Brown’s two-run homer in the eighth got the Rangers on the board and tied the score.
The gloves: 1B Mitch Moreland could not handle a rather routine throw from second in the second inning, which put Vernon Wells on first. He stole second and eventually scored in the inning. … Minor league LF Val Majewski dropped a ball that led to the Angels re-taking the lead in the eighth.

Up next: The Rangers begin their final week in Arizona with an 8:05 p.m. CDT date against Cincinnati (TV: KTXA-Channel 21). RHP Scott Feldman demonstrating that he can pitch long-haul outings twice in a week will start on three days’ rest. Feldman will likely be the Rangers’ long man in the bullpen if RHP Neftali Feliz has no further issues with his shoulder. LHP Jeff Francis pitches for Cincinnati.